Unforeseen Affliction (snape x reader)

Connections

The day when students come back from winter break feels oddly normal, peaceful almost. They swarm the halls and discuss the presents they all received and the amazing places they visited.

When your roommates return to your dormitory, Laura remembers them and greets them with ease; she doesn't freak out like she did when she first saw you. They are less than enthusiastic about her return, and quickly return to ignoring both of you.

The first day back in classes went as well as could be expected, distracted students and teachers lecturing about the new term and about the upcoming exams in a few months.

Nevertheless, you're exhausted, and your eyes threaten to close while you're sitting in the Great Hall at dinner.

Laura had seemed to return to her normal self, and you don't bring up her odd behavior from her first night back as you sit with her. Across the Hall several professors watch Laura apprehensively, observing how she's adjusting to being back at Hogwarts. Dumbledore however, looks oddly calm compared to those who surround him, and he's leaning towards Snape, muttering something. Snape gives the occasional nod, but he too looks unbothered.

Towards the end of dinner, you decide to ask her what happened. You hadn't really had a chance so far to talk to her about everything, but she finally seemed to be in a stable state, and you wanted to hear things from her perspective.  "Laura?"

"Yeah?" she responds, briefly glancing up at you from her pie.

"Where were you?" you ask slowly, "All this time, I mean."

She pauses the movement of her fork and sets it down, slowly turning to you. "St. Mungos."

You raise your eyebrows. Snape did say she was recovering from her attack in the forest, but didn't mention any details. You were glad someone was finally fueling your curiosity and not deflecting your questions.

"They were fixing my memory." she says, but her face flinches as if she has to strain to get the words out.

"Yeah?" you say quietly, urging her to continue.

"They told me I was attacked. They tried to get me to say who it was, but," she sighs, "I don't remember. I don't remember who it was, I don't remember a lot of things. They wanted to keep me there longer, but eventually sent me back here, to Hogwarts, in hopes it would stir something in my memory I guess."

"Shit, Laura." Your stomach drops in disappointment. It seems like you'll be in the dark about the truth forever.

"I wanted to write to you as soon as I recovered enough to realize the way I flipped out at you was messed up, it was like I wasn't even in control-" she says quickly, "But they wouldn't let me have contact with anyone from outside the hospital."

You shake your head, that seems like it was so long ago.

"It's okay. Really." you say genuinely, reaching an arm out to her shoulder. "You know, someone tried to attack me too." you add, trying to steer the conversation to find out information you had been denied for weeks.

Laura's jaw drops, "What?! Who?"

"It was two boys from Slytherin, Reid and Mueller... and someone else too..." you trail off.

"Who else?" Laura asks impatiently.

"Moss, I think you know them. You never told me about them, but it seemed like something was going on between you."

Laura looks confused for a second but then a look of understanding flashes across her face. "You mean Hollis?"

"Hollis Moss?" you ask.